Winter Season Starts Strong

By Bill Hall,
Director of Athletics

With the onset of the winter season, basketball, swimming, and climbing teams have taken their spot center stage in the Colorado Academy athletics world. Middle School athletics has also transitioned to indoor sports, and competitive seasons are underway in that division, too. So much is to be learned, developed, and improved over the next two months that it’s great to finally have the busy winter schedule here. The collaboration and teamwork that takes place in these winter programs is something truly special.

 

New head of CA girls basketball, Cyndi Graziano, has worked with many of her  players during their free time over the past six months to hone the skills necessary to be successful in the ultra-competitive Metro League. Graziano, along with her assistants Connie Raines and Nicole Buckley, who is also a Colorado Academy PE teacher and a field hockey and lacrosse coach, and Thanh Luong, a Middle School science teacher, boast very competitive teams at three levels this year.

 

Leading the way for Graziano are three seniors who are also three-sport athletes, Celia Osman, Claire Wright, and Kelsey Stone. Despite the fact that Osman and Wright have been sidelined due to injuries, the Mustangs are off to a 2-1 start with victories over Coal Ridge HS on the road and the Vanguard School at home. The rest of the December slate had Pagosa Springs HS and Bayfield HS in the Buena Vista tournament and then DSST-Stapleton and Summit HS. One final game vs. Eaton HS is scheduled January 7 at CA prior to the girls’ embarking on their league schedule. Certainly the grueling non-conference schedule will pay dividends as the team heads into league play.

 

With Graziano guiding her players through the inevitable ups and downs of a season, her team will have success and continue to build upon a strong foundation. Head of CA boys basketball, Steve Hyatt, also has been hard at work teaching his players the skills necessary to be successful this winter.

 

The boys have three different levels competing this season: Varsity, JV and C. Heading up the JV team is assistant lacrosse coach Shawn Zordani, who was a standout high school basketball and lacrosse player at Heritage High School in Littleton, and he also captained and won multiple National lacrosse championships at Salisbury State University.

 

Hyatt, a 30-year educator, is a true teacher and has a focus on the basketball program and his players regardless of what grade he is working with. Hyatt has energy and a passion that is unrivaled and benefits all of the players. His attention to detail and focus on the fundamentals helps players achieve success beyond what most thought was possible.

 

The December schedule saw the Mustangs victorious against KIPP in the opener and then against Coal Ridge HS and Pueblo Centennial on the road. Mid-December tournaments in Steamboat Springs and at Mullen also provided great competition against 4A schools.  Seniors Tye Thompson, James Jensen, and Pepijn Van Ede lead Hyatt’s team.

 

CA girls swimming, led by six-year veteran head coach Beckie Mutz, has seen increased participation this year as the team has grown to over 22 members, including 3 divers. Middle School math teacher Jason Koza and Upper School math teacher Paul Augustus also assist Mutz, helping the swimmers and providing a great link between the classroom and the court. Ali Altman (a diver) and Arianna Goldman lead an impressive group of seniors.

 

The girls had four meets in December, the first against Denver West, which they won 126-45 and the second in a tri meet against St. Mary’s 146-115 and Platte Canyon 174-46. The swim team looks to finish well during league play in January, qualify a record number of swimmers for state with increasingly better times, and then show well in the state meet in early February. With the formation of a 3A girls swim league this year, the girls are set to have an epic run, er swim, at state!

 

Finally, climbing coaches Suzu Jeffries, a nationally ranked climber, and Middle School teacher Forbes Cone, have assembled a strong group for the competitive winter climbing season. In December, the group climbed well in its first meet at the Denver Bouldering Club against bigger high schools such as Cherry Creek, with top-notch individual performances by Eric Masinter, George Davis, and Alena Holbert.

 

The team looks to continue to reach new heights in January’s competitions and in preparation for the state meet, which is around the corner in early February. The  growth of the program under Cone and Jeffries certainly has been exciting. Arguably, a unique mindset and set of skills can be formed while competing on this team, which then can translate to success in the classroom and positive social outcomes, as well.

 

If you have a chance, check the CA website for upcoming games and meets. Admission is always free for CA families at CA venues. Come by and support these great student athletes!